If you fancy a big read check out 'A Bright Shining Lie' by Neil Sheehan which charts the struggles of Lt. Col. John Paul Van as an early advisor in Vietnam, his difficulties overcoming the delusions of the early generals over there who were convinced South Vietnam had workable rulers and a populace willing to fight despite all evidence to the contrary, his later difficulties with Westmoreland and his futile body-count strategy and his own crowning failure as he in turn succumbs to wishful thinking and becomes convinced his own failing strategy is working. Its told from the perspective of the sometimes gonzo journalists who initially hero-worshiped Van and later came to realise how he too was wrong. Most of all it's a book about how smart people can be completely wrong and not see what's evidently in front of them. Incredible read not only of the Vietnam War as a whole, but a fascinatingly flawed, brave, womanising, manipulative yet oddly innocent heroic figure.

Michael Herr's Despatches is also a must read. Oh, and coincidentally off to see the restored re-release of Apocalypse Now tonight at Cineworld on their biggest screen. Oooh.